Don't throw stones... this church (Edappally) is a place to worship God

  

 

 

 

 

   When you build a house, you will try to do it in the best possible way. Right? You will try to use the best of materials and designs and make it as chic as possible. Why don't you then build the best for Jesus?  

 It's a magnificent church, an imposing and sublime architectural wonder. The awe-inspiring place of worship is also a subject matter of a raging controversy.
 Yes, we're talking about the new church built at Edappally, Kochi, India. Estimated to have cost around Rs 30 crore (US dollar 46,87,000), it took nearly 15 years to complete the construction of the church, which incidentally is in the name of St George, a 3rd century Christian martyr. For the uninitiated populace, there're more outsiders, that too from all the religions, than insiders or parish members, coming here to pray for their special needs every day. More than that, church is a place where you can experience the tangible presence of God. 
 Sadly, the new church is in the firing line of a section of people within the Roman Catholic Church who made a public display of their opposition to the construction of this beautiful church. I can only say that this diatribe against the construction of a church is abominable and deplorable. This particular church is one of the most popular in Kerala and hundreds of faithful come there daily.
 I happened to read a letter sent by a person to Cardinal George Alencherry, which said, “this (church) represents a low point in the annals of the church... It's obvious that the Syro-Malabar church is trying to impress on everyone, Rome not excluded, that it's the most powerful, wealthy and influential church in Kerala.” I read another Facebook message which comments about bishops and priests in the most inappropriate and undesirable manner. "Priests and bishops are in race for power, race to show strength....," this FB post said. Such letters and messages show the moral and spiritual turpitude of people. Sir, it’s a place to worship our Almighty God. You want the church to be in a dilapidated condition?
 Most of the people who sang Hosannas against the church construction are living in palatial houses worth crores of rupees. They have no qualms about spending huge amounts on such ”palaces” where not more than two or three people live. Do we really need huge palatial houses for us in Kerala? Take a tour from North to South Kerala. You can see thousands of such villas dotting the Kerala landscape. This really is  a vulgar display of wealth and power. Instead of going around criticizing and castigating church and its authorities, try to come closer to God. We are playing into the hands of devil with such fib in the name of a church. I believe this particular church is for the posterity, for the next 10 or 15 generations.
 If you scan the social media and newspapers from the region, you will see hundreds of messages, mails and reports castigating the church authorities for constructing this beautiful church in Edappally. Instead of trying to run down the church, we must follow the Bible, and never stoop down to the lowest level by hurling scorn and contempt at church officials, including the head of Syro-Malabar Catholic church Cardinal Alencherry who consecrated the church recently.
 Close to 75 per cent of Christains in Kerala belong to the middle class segment. They are wealthy, as mostly work outside the state or in Middle East, the US, Europe and Australia. They own tony villas and plots across the state, but it's another matter that most of these villas are either locked or their old parents live in loneliness. A villa costs not less than Rs one crore (US dollar 156,250) in the state. Some of these are palatial bungalows with half-a-dozen bedrooms and match with villas in any European country or the US for sheer opulence and grandeur. If some people have a problem with this "opulent" church, they should think about their own palatial houses instead of complaining in Facebook and Twitter that church authorities should build more orphanages and old age homes.
 Studies reveal that Kerala tops in per head liquor consumption in India with 8.3 litres per person. Liquor sales shoot up on important Christian days like Christmas and Easter. People in Kerala set a record in alcohol consumption. Why is it so? Why can't they (people against building church) try to stop this alcoholism and give away that money to old age and children homes?
 Though I don't live in Kerala, I know one thing. Syro-Malabar church runs 211 old age homes, 185 children homes, 230 orphanages and 54 specialised healthcare and leprosy care centres in Kerala. Besides, there're hundreds of hospitals and other institutions. We need more such institutions to take care of poor people.
That said, I'm not advocating that all churches in Kerala should be like Edappilly. Use wisdom and intelligence. Spend money wisely on such things without getting into a competition with each other. But lets give the best to Jesus. Like Abel did. We shouldn't end up like a Cain.

Don’t bring tears to your parents eyes… it will destroy your life

 “I will build a big bungalow and shift there with husband. I don’t want to see your face. I’m fed up of you,” Sabrina (name changed) shouted at her mother-in-law Mary on a sultry afternoon. Mary was deeply hurt by her daughter-in-law’s verbal assault. This household used to witness persistent warfare between the daughter-in-law and mother-in-law. They used to have separate kitchen and cooking in the household.

 Sabrina wasn’t lucky to move into her new bungalow in the town -- Kochi, southern state of Kerala, India. Six months later, Sabrina died in the hospital as she was diagnosed with cancer -- that too the last stage of the dreaded disease.

 Isn’t there a message in this true life story?

 Pope Francis recently said societies that mistreat older people are infected with a ‘virus of death’ and put their own futures in jeopardy. “Where there is no honour for the elderly there is no future for young people,” he said.

  If you look around, you will hear people complaining about “marriage not happening”, “endlessly waiting for a child”, “no growth in the family”, “persistent diseases”, “not getting a job” and various “blocks and bondages in life”. Why is this happening?

  “When I heard about many such cases, I decided to pray… and got the answer. Whoever has hurt his/her father or mother, whoever has brought tears to the eyes of his/ her parents, such blocks, hurdles and bondages enter their lives. If you pray you will also get to know about that truth,” Rev Fr Sharlo Ezhanikattu CST said in a recent television talk programme.

 He says God’s blessings flow through three channels: priests, parents and teachers. If you hurt your father or mother, the channel which showers blessings from God gets blocked. “Then God’s grace won’t remain in that person and he will face various blocks and bondages. When God’s blessings stop flowing, Satan will start ruling that family. Satan doesn’t want anything good to happen. Satan creates blocks and bondages. Satan will create an atmosphere which prompts a person to reject God,” he said.

  It’s like a lion waiting for its prey. It knows the areas where it can pounce on a prey. Similarly, Satan also pounces on a person, leading to blocks, bondages, troubles and sorrows. Have you brought tears into the eyes of your father or mother?

 According to Catechism of the Catholic Church, Lord Jesus himself recalled the force of this "commandment of God. Ephesians 6:2 says: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother,' (This is the first commandment with a promise.) 'that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth."' Tobit 4:3-4 says, “honor your mother and do not abandon her all the days of her life. Do whatever pleases her, and do not grieve her in anything.  Remember her, my son, because she faced many dangers for you while you were in her womb.”

  “If you want blessings and grace from God and a good life, you have to love and respect your parents. If this love and respect towards your parents are missing, then all blocks, bondages, troubles, sickness and sorrows will come into your lives,” he said.

  It’s common to see sons -- who mostly work in other countries -- dump their parents in a old age home. In many families, sons want to live separately, away from their parents. “If you go out and live in a rented house and away from your parents, there won’t be peace in your family. If you reject your parents, that’s like rejecting God. If you have brought tears to the eyes of your parents, that’s equivalent to making God tearful. If you have thrown your parents out of your house, that means you have thrown God out of your house,” Rev Fr Sharlo said.

 “After hurting your parents, there’s no point in attending charismatic retreats, prayers and Holy Mass. God won’t listen to your prayers. Are you going to church after taking care of your parents?” he asked.

   In short, the bottom line is: your family will face disaster if you have hurt your parents. Pope Francis made it clear when he said it was a deadly sin to “discard” the elderly and that those who do so will suffer the same fate themselves. “It is sickening to see the elderly discarded. It is ugly. It is a sin,” he said. “Abandoning the elderly is a mortal sin. Children who do not visit their elderly and ill parents have mortally sinned. Understand?” Pope used a tough language to send this message across to people.

  If you take care of your parents, love and support them, you will stay blessed and God’s grace will envelop you. If you want to be successful in life, you need the blessings of your parents. “When you start a venture or when your kids go for an exam or you start a new job, go and get your parents blessings. Your life will remain blessed,” Rev Fr Sharlo said.

  There’s an advice to the parents as well: never curse your kids. Bless them. They might change for good. “Parents, don’t forget God and live only for sons and daughters,” Rev Fr Sharlo said.

 

              

     

God is ruling us, not Satan

 Who is ruling the world? If you think it is devil, you’re terribly mistaken. God is ruling this world. It’s not the position of your house or the way it’s constructed that determines the direction of your life. It’s God.  It’s not the position of stars, sun and moon that controls the universe. It’s God which determines its direction.

Rev Fr Daniel

  We’re living in a world where God who can destroy any kind of evil forces rules. As Galatians 4:8 says, “formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods”. Now you know God. God also knows you. “You can’t and shouldn’t rely on forces of this world. How can you go back to a life of superstition and live with fear about beliefs of this world. You shouldn’t entertain superstitious beliefs,” says Rev Fr Daniel Poovannathil, a Malankara Catholic priest and lecturer by profession.
 The direction of this universe and earth is decided by God.  It’s time that families accept the Word of God. God’s grace has increased in this world, not sin. God is ruling this world, not Satan. Unless this thought doesn’t enter our minds, our fears and worries won’t disappear, he said in a television programme. “I have seen so many people struck by fears and worries.”
  We made mistakes because we didn’t know the power and goodness of God. "Don’t be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom,” says Luke 12:32.
 It’s time that families get the strength and power from God. “As we didn’t know the reality, we made mistakes.  If we are worried or scared about something, persons, objects or situations, God will save us and retrieve us from that situation,”  Rev Fr Daniel says. The Word of God says this. We should accept the Word of God. Pslams 34:7 says, “the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” Psalm 91:9-10 says, “if you say “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.” Psalms 43:1 says, “do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”
 “We must have a baptism of our hearts and become true Christians. We must get a transformation from Jesus Christ. We should believe that Jesus is taking care of us. We must believe that God is ruling us,” he says. As Isaiah 41: 10 says, “so do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you.”    
 That said, what’s our responsibility? “You should go for the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession and believe in the Word of God, Holy Bible. If you want to enjoy the peace, happiness, forgiveness, grace and salvation from God, you must follow two things. First confess your sins and seek His forgiveness,” he says.
 There are ample situations that can justify your sins, but don’t fall for it. “Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear,” say Isaiah 59:1. “God can salvage you from any depth of disaster or failure or calamity. However, God says your sinful acts have kept me away from you. Your sins have turned His face away from you. As a result, He is not able to listen to your prayers,” Rev Fr Daniel says.
 If you want blessings and grace from God, you should come out of your sinful activities. “Whatever you pray, God won’t listen if you are leading a sinful life. So confess your sins and turn to God,” he says.
  The second import thing is that you should believe in the Gospel. What’s Gospel? It’s the belief that salvation has come to us through Jesus Christ. “It’s proclaiming that Jesus Christ is our Lord and redeemer and worshipping Him. If you do this, there’s hope for you… hope of eternal life. You can become part of Heaven. Through Jesus Christ, yours sins are forgiven. This is Gospel,” Rev Fr Daniel says.
 The power of God will then come to us.